Sunday Recap: The One AM Radio, Lymbyc System, The Race @ Che Cafe

It's not very often that I make the trek to the Che Cafe. Mostly that's because my car is falling apart, but also has to do with preferring 21+ venues and anything with the words "co-op" or collective means I have to smell the b.o. of someone who thinks they're gonna save the world by skipping showers. Sorry to sound crass or judgmental, but I had to move at least three times because I thought I was gonna gag. Still I was happy to be there on this night. I arrived as the first band started. The Race is a three piece from Chicago that play accompanied by prerecorded drum beats and loops coming from an iPod.

I actually liked their sound though I would have preferred a live drummer. The singer has a pretty deep voice, reminiscent of Joy Division or Interpol and they were easy to like.

The second band of the night were Lymbyc System. I got a little nervous while they set up because there were no vocal mics and I tend to avoid all instrumental music. They had me from the very beginning, however, with pretty compositions that weaved and layered with their moog and korg and other keyboard trickery, and lead by the drums and xylophones. There were a couple songs where they were joined onstage with the one am radio, and the added guitar and horns made the songs even richer. Still, being all instrumental, I listened mostly from the Che patio.

There are certain record labels I just trust...Secretly Canadian, Saddle Creek, Barsuk...that have a strong roster of artists that you can trust are gonna be worth your time. Dangerbird Records is one of those labels for me. Dappled Cities, All Smiles, and Silversun Pickups all have great releases and have played great shows here this year. the one a.m. radio is another on that roster. Though I do have to retract my Elliott Smith comparison. While it might come off that way recorded, live was a different story.

Hrishikesh Hirway is the man behind the one am radio. He was backed up by the Lymbyc System and the arrangements were beautiful. He was kind enough to put me on the list and I captured some of the show, though there are definite lighting issues, which seems to be my eternal curse. This is "Lest I Forget" and I also captured "The Echoing Airports" that you can watch here. If you missed the show, I highly recommend adding the CD to your collection.

Daedalus finished the show, but it was more of a mixing/dj thing with a laptop more than a band thing, and in the first song, when I heard New Order, I decided to call it a night. Though not really because I swung by Bluefoot then met up with friends at the Pink Elephant, then Bryan and I wandered Kensington Park trying to see the meteor shower to no avail. Let's just say I was happy that I had no obligations today. Another great night in San Diego.